December 19

Hi,

Well, at last there is a plan. Dr. Meena spent about 30 minutes with us today, explaining all of the tests that she has had done for Den and giving us her opinion on how to proceed.

First, the vascular surgeon that read the report of the ultra sound from last night is the same doctor that read the report on November 30. Because there are so many clots in both legs ("shocking" was the word he used,) he compared the two reports and told Dr. Meena that his best guess is that there are probably no new significant clots and that the swelling is due to the pooling of all the IV fluids Den's been getting.

Second, Dr. Meena ran a test to check whether Denny's pituitary gland is capable of producing it's own cortisol and it is, which means that the weaning process of getting him off the dexamethosone will start again but at an even lower reduction rate than was done in the past.

Next, after conferring with another specialist, Dr. Meena is going to give Denny a new medicine that will help get the edema back into his veins and muscles. (I hope
that's right--I know it's to get the water redirected!)

Finally, all of his other blood tests and vitals are falling within normal ranges, he seems to be a little stronger each day (today he walked to and from the bathroom,)
and he is strong enough for physical therapy, so sometime this weekend he will transferred to the sub-acute unit where he will be until they decide he is able to come home. Dr. Meena estimates that will be a week or two. He won't be able to come home until there is no risk of him falling. He will get more intensive physical therapy, etc., on that unit but won't see the doctor everyday. This surely beats having to transfer him to a nursing home.

So, that's everything from today. Hopefully, future blog entries will be short and positive, and the ups and downs will plane out. That's what I'm praying for tonight!

Take care and have a fun weekend-before-Christmas!

Love,
Carla